With time this can lead to changes in the tendons and the tunnel through which they travel. But, it can also lead to de Quervain’s Tenosynovitis, pain and inflammation in the tendons on the thumb side of the wrist. Thumb dominated smartphone use can lead to inflammation in the thumb joint causing pain and soreness that usually subsides with rest. They can become inflamed and develop tendonitis – which brings with it pain, throbbing and motion loss in the affected area. Too much typing and repetitive motion of the thumb overexert the thumb’s tendons, (tendons are the rope-like structures that the muscle uses to pull the bone). Overuse of the thumbs can lead to a repetitive strain injury (RSI). This can lead to pain from the tug of war between the tendons flexing and extending the thumb…and to an appointment in the office of a hand specialist like me. Most people hold their cellphone in one hand and use that thumb to control it, but the joints and muscles in the thumb just are not designed for that type of position and usage. Billions of text messages are typed and sent every day and countless hours are spent scrolling through social media apps. Terms like “text thumb” and “smartphone thumb” are being used to describe thumb pain related to constant texting and smartphone use. The time we spend staring down into our phone screens is a hazard for the cervical spine, but texting and typing on the smartphone also brings about an entirely different health concern involving our thumbs. With all the time we spend staring down into our phone screens each day, “tech neck” has become a popularly-named health issue as we crane our necks in unnatural positions to work and play with our phones for hours on end. In this highly digital age, we are continuously connected to social media sites, email, and texting smartphones have become the accessory that rarely leaves our hands.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |